Serving drinks with a smile

Volunteer Moriah van Dodewaard is shown handing a warm refreshment to Trudy Westervelt during the 2019 Family Day event held at Matilda Memorial Park in Brinston. Refreshments were provided free of charge courtesy of the Optimist Club of South Dundas and the Matilda Memorial Recreation Committee during the event. Thompson Goddard photo

SOUTH DUNDAS – Family Day, a provincial holiday in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and New Brunswick, is designed to provide families with an opportunity to spend some time together. This year, Family Day in Ontario fell on Mon., Feb. 18 with the weather cooperating by providing a bright sunny day throughout the local area which enabled many to go outside and enjoy the outdoors.

The Free Family Skate at the Morrisburg Arena on Family Day sponsored by the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation was one of several activities on Family Day in South Dundas; as were Family Day activities at the Matilda Memorial Park in Brinston and the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary just outside of Morrisburg.  

Matilda Memorial Park was quite busy at the Family Day event which was organized by the Matilda Memorial Recreation Committee and the Optimist Club of South Dundas; it featured skating on the outdoor rink, walking in the snow, enjoying the warmth of a bonfire while enjoying a free hot dog, hot chocolate, hot coffee or warm apple cider, with children able to enter a draw for prizes.  

Pond hockey
There was an enthusiastic game of hockey on the outdoor rink at Matilda Memorial Park in Brinston during the Family Day event held on Feb 18.
Thompson Goddard photo

Volunteer Ineke van Dodewaard, a member of the Optimist Club of South Dundas, commented she was “excited with the turnout” during the event and mentioned organizers would be looking at the possibility of holding a similar Family Day activity in 2020.  She estimated between 30-40 people were at Matilda Memorial Park at any one time for the activities and expressed the pleasure she felt in seeing the rink, which is maintained by community volunteers, used. 

The volunteers at the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary located east of Morrisburg just off County Road 2 were very pleased with the number of people participating in their Family Day event. Ross Miller, president of the Friends of the Sanctuary, told the Chesterville Record the location had been “extremely busy” during operations on Family Day this year. The weather was sunny and the trail conditions excellent with many people taking advantage of the holiday to get out and enjoy the outdoors by walking, skiing or snowshoeing at the site. 

Miller mentioned there was a good turnout for the Moonlight Ski held on Feb. 17 with the last Moonlight Ski for this year planned for March 23. He went on to say that plans for March Break activities are in the planning stage and suggested checking the organization’s Facebook page for updates.